The rising cost of doner kebabs has led to growing calls in Germany for a government subsidy program to keep the inflation-hit country favorite affordable, as politicians report that this is frequently cited as a concern in discussions with voters, reports The Guardian.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has become so used to being asked about the price of kebabs during public appearances that his government has even taken to social media to explain that the price hike is partly due to rising wage and energy costs. “It’s quite striking that everywhere I go, mainly from young people, I’m asked if there shouldn’t be a price brake on doner,” Scholz said.
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The far-left party Die Linke has become the latest to address the issue, calling in a proposal it wants to present to parliament for a price cap on Dönerpreisbremse, or doner kebab, similar to that introduced in some parts of the country to control high rents. The organization claims that in some cities, kebabs already cost 10 euros, up from 4 euros just two years ago.
The party recommends a maximum price of 4.90 euros and 2.90 euros for young people, especially those on low incomes, for whom this dish – thin slices of grilled meat topped with finely chopped vegetables, garlic or sauce chilies and placed in a folded flatbread – it’s a daily staple. It is proposed that every household receives daily Doner vouchers.
Sales of kebabs – introduced to Germany by Turkish immigrants who adapted them to local tastes – are estimated at €7 billion a year in Germany.
Based on the roughly 1.3 billion kebabs that are consumed each year in the country – 400,000 per day in Berlin alone – such a subsidy program would cost €4 billion annually, Die Linke calculated.
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